Did you know that the first YouTube video was uploaded by YouTube Co-founder Jawed Karim, documenting his trip to the zoo? His video, ‘Me at the Zoo’, was only 18 seconds long. Fast forward now to the present day and you have videos that are 15 minutes or longer once you’ve verified your account. We’ve come a long way since the early days of YouTube. Now, there’s a whole community of YouTube stars and even conferences such as VidCon that celebrate online video. People are getting discovered on YouTube and getting placed into stardom.
One famous YouTube star, PewDiePie, expressed his thoughts on becoming the most subscribed channel:
“When I started my YouTube channel in 2010, I never imagined that one day it would be the most subscribed channel in the world and that I would be a part of such a great community.” – PewDiePie
So you’re probably thinking that it would be pretty cool to become a YouTube star….but, how do you do that? Besides creating great content and having some luck, you’re going to need video equipment. What video equipment would a YouTube star need? Read on…
1. Camera
Okay, so the first and most obvious piece of video equipment that you’ll need would be a camera. When you’re first starting out, you don’t have to go crazy and buy an extremely expensive DSLR camera. The most cost effective route to take would be to first use your smartphone or get one. Smartphone technology has gotten advanced enough that the cameras can capture high quality video. For example, the iPhone 6S Plus can record ultra high resolution video at 4K resolution. For Android, the Samsung Galaxy S7 makes the shutter speed, ISO, white balance and focus user-accessible.
When you’ve built up more of a following and when you’re ready for a nice camera, then you should look into cameras such as the Canon EOS Rebel T6i kit, the Canon XA10, or the Sony a6300.
2. Microphone
The next essential piece of video equipment that you’ll need is a microphone. It’s crucial to have clear audio so that your audience can hear you in your videos. If viewers can’t hear you clearly, then nobody will pay attention and you’ll have a harder time trying to build up a following. Browse all of the audio products Ikan has to offer. From condenser microphones to wireless lavalier kits, Ikan’s got you covered.
3. Lighting
Lighting is important especially if you’re filming things indoors. If you’re just filming yourself at your desk or something similar to that, all you’ll need are small LED lights such as the OYB120 or OYB240. Beauty lights such as the Oryon Ring Light are great for YouTubers that give tutorials on makeup.
4. Tripods
A low cost photo tripod for DSLR cameras or phones is a great piece of video equipment to have when filming a YouTube video. E-Image has tripods kits available for any budget without compromising quality.
5. Gimbals
When filming a video, it can be hard to get nice, stable footage especially when you’re moving around. This is why getting a gimbal can be very helpful. Gimbals will increase your value on YouTube because you’ll be able to present clear and stabilized video content. Once you’ve built up momentum on YouTube, you can invest in a Horizon Pro E-Image Gimbal, which works well with DSLR and mirrorless cameras.
It’s a Wrap
In addition to all those products mentioned, you’ll need some kind of editing software. It can be an app on your phone or a program on your computer. Just remember: it’s all about getting the basic video equipment that you need to get started. Once you get the equipment and know how to use it, creating great content is what will drive people to your videos. Start with what you have first and then later, increase your production value.
Want to learn more about Ikan’s products for creating great videos? Subscribe to the Ikan newsletter.